Malaysia to give input on post-millennium goals

COLOMBO - Malaysia is set to give its input to the association of Commonwealth Nations on the United Nations Post-Millennium Development Goals as part of a measure to give the 53 member nations a better role in setting its direction.

The heads of government attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) had decided that the member nations would play a more decisive role in shaping the outcome of the post-millennium goals in 2015, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

"To achieve this, a conference of CHOGM finance ministers will be held to discuss the matter and prepare input to determine the direction of UN's Post-Millennium Development Goals," he told reporters after launching the Foshwa Pvt Ltd One-Stop-Centre for Malaysian visas at a ceremony in Colombo yesterday.

Such a decision was taken based on the influence of CHOGM's member nations, which would be able to shape the direction of other international forums, said Najib.

Malaysia, he said, would be channelling its input to CHOGM by 2014 before the Commonwealth body presented its views to UN following the proposed conference.